10 Android Apps Enterprise Mobile Device Users Should Install

10 Android Apps Enterprise Mobile Device Users Should Install

By Don Reisinger

OfficeSuite Pro 7 Proves Popular for Viewing Documents

As of this writing, OfficeSuite Pro 7 is the most popular paid application in Google's Play marketplace, with installs on more than 120 million devices. The application allows users to not only create and view Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint presentations, but also edit them. There's also a PDF viewer built-in. The app is a little expensive, however, coming in at $14.99.

Splashtop Remote Desktop Accesses Desk-Bound PCs, Macs

Splashtop Remote Desktop typically costs users $10, but for a limited time, the application, which allows users to remotely access their PCs from their mobile devices, is available for $5. The app works with both PCs and Macs, and supports high-res video and audio. It's a great option.

Google Quickoffice Lets Users View, Edit Office Documents

Google makes the list in this roundup with help from its very own Quickoffice. Not only does the free application allow users to open and view PDF files, but it has gained popularity for its ability to create and edit Office documents. One other neat feature: Users can save files on Google Drive with 15GB of free storage available.

Square Register Supports Mobile Sales, Inventory

Although the free Square Register might not apply to all enterprise customers, it's a great option for retailers or consultants working in that field. Square Register works with Square's card-swiping technology and keeps track of inventory, handles all plastic (and even cash) payments and deposits receipts into the owner's bank account within 24 hours. It's a well-built app from a fast-growing company.

Build Your Contact List With CamCard

CamCard costs $2.99, but at that price, it delivers one of the best values in the Google Play marketplace. The app allows users to snap a photo of a business card, and then analyzes the data and populates it into their Contacts folder. It even syncs across all devices.

ES Task Manager Helps Manage Android Handsets

The free ES Task Manager is a must-have for anyone who has an Android handset that's overstuffed with data and applications. The app has tools built-in that let users free up memory, kill tasks that are taking too long and fully uninstall apps. It's a handy free app to have running on a handset.

Android's security issues have become a cause for concern in the corporate world. Some estimates put the amount of malware targeting Android compared with other operating systems at 97 percent or more. That's precisely why it's a good idea to install Securifox Antivirus and Mobile Security. The free app scans all installed apps, as well as the SD card, for threats and attempts to remove them. The app also works on improving phone performance and cleaning up any loose ends. All in all, it's a high-quality app.

App Lock Protects Built-in Mobile Apps

App Lock doesn't get much attention, but it deserves some. The free app allows users to protect built-in apps, like Messaging, Gmail, Facebook and others, with a pattern-unlock function. So, in addition to opening handsets up with a passcode or swipe, App Lock adds a second layer of protection to built-in programs. Nice.

Authy Provides Two-Factor Authentication

Since security is so important to enterprise users, it's perhaps no surprise that yet another security app has made the cut. This one, Authy, protects all accounts with two-factor authentication. There's even a backup option to ensure users don't get locked out of their handsets. Authy is a simple-to-use, must-have free app.

J2 Global eFax Links Mobile Devices to Fax Machines

Want a quick way to send faxes from a mobile handset? J2 Global's eFax might just be it. The application features both inboxes and the ability to create different folders. From there, users can send out faxes to other fax machines, set up contacts and sign documents. It's a full-featured app. Best of all, it's free.

The corporate world has decided that Apple's iOS is the ideal platform in a strong majority of cases, according to new data from analysis firm Intermedia. The company found that between January and October, Apple's iOS accounted for 76 percent of mobile OS activations in the enterprise. Apple's iPhone and iPad both proved popular during the period. While Apple received much of the attention in the study, there was another even more interesting trend lurking in the shadows: Android is slowly but surely becoming a more popular force in the corporate world. Samsung was able to nab 12 percent market share with its Android handsets, followed by Motorola at 5 percent and HTC at 2 percent shares in the corporate market. Other Android handsets took 3 percent of the space. All in, Android owns nearly a quarter of the mobile OS market. With these statistics in mind, it makes sense to give corporate Android mobile device users and potential users a look at some of the better apps they can find in the Google Play store to make them more productive in the office. With the right apps, Android really can work for enterprise users. Take a look at what is available.

Don Reisinger is a freelance technology columnist. He started writing about technology for Ziff-Davis' Gearlog.com. Since then, he has written extremely popular columns for CNET.com, Computerworld, InformationWeek, and others. He has appeared numerous times on national television to share his expertise with viewers. You can follow his every move at http://twitter.com/donreisinger.